A Brooklyn mother and her boyfriend have been indicted on homicide-related charges after prosecutors say her 3-year-old son, Kyng Davis, was beaten and starved to death. A grand jury returned counts of second-degree murder, second-degree manslaughter and endangering the welfare of a child against 39-year-old Robert White and 25-year-old Sunshyne Davis. Kyng was brought to SUNY Downstate in March 2025 and was later pronounced dead.
According to News12, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled that Kyng died from abuse and neglect that included blunt-force trauma, starvation and dehydration. The outlet reports that White and Davis allegedly dropped the boy off at SUNY Downstate just before 11:30 a.m. on March 9, 2025, and that court documents say the couple had been living in White’s car at the time. News12 also reports that Davis appeared before a judge this week, while White is expected to be arraigned on the new charges at a later date.
Earlier Assault Allegations
Investigators say White was arrested weeks after Kyng’s death on separate assault and child-endangerment charges stemming from a Feb. 22, 2025 incident in which relatives told police he repeatedly struck the child, according to CBS New York. White’s cousin, Nikita Nash, told officers she stepped in to stop the alleged attack, and charging documents submitted to the court describe multiple blows to the boy’s face. Those earlier charges were filed before prosecutors brought the death-related counts to a grand jury.
Prosecutor's Statement
In a statement to News12, Kings County District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said, "We will vigorously prosecute this case to secure justice for Kyng." He added that prosecutors allege the child "was denied the most basic care and compassion" and that the defendants are accused of inflicting the injuries that led to his death, according to the outlet.
Questions About Oversight
The case has reignited questions about whether city agencies and police missed earlier warning signs. NY1 reported that the Administration for Children’s Services and the NYPD had contact with the family months before the boy’s death, and that officers responded to a call in December but did not enter the apartment, details that advocates say are now under review.
Family And Community Reaction
After Kyng was left at the hospital, family members publicly pleaded with his mother to turn herself in, and relatives told NBC New York in March 2025 that they were seeking answers and accountability. Community advocates and neighbors have also urged officials to release the investigative record as the case moves through the courts.
Hoodline previously covered Kyng’s death in March 2025 (Brooklyn Boy Found Dead), and we will continue tracking court filings and official statements as prosecutors prepare for trial.
